Screw pump



Oct. 21, 1952 G, L, QLLINQQ 2,614,499

SCREW PUMP Filed May 29, 1947 a Sheet'S Sheet 1 I Inventor j era/d Laverr; Mullins N 0 By Q a v Attorneys Oct. 21, 1952 U lNs 2,614,499

SCREW PUMP Filed May 29, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.2.-

Inventor Gerald L'avem Mullins.

Oct. 21, 1952 G. MULLINS 2,614,499

SCREW PUMP Filed May 29, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet s Inuentar Gerald Lavern Mullins @Mwii.

Patented Oct. 21, 1952 SCREW PUMP V Gerald Lavern Mullins. Camden; v sppu ti n-May 29, 1947; Serial e. 751,189

. 1 This invention relates to novel and useful improvements in a hydraulic drive system particularly useful in motivating automotive vehicles.-

An'object of this invention is to provide improved pump means for directing fluid.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel and improved means for driving the rotor of said pump means. i

A further object of this invention is to provide controllable pitch veins or blades'in said rotor and improved means for controlling the pitch of said blades.

Another object of this invention'is to provide an improved differential means, associated with said pump means for compensating for theusualdifferential in speed of the rear wheels of a con ventional vehicle.

Another object of this a' simple hydraulic transmission utilizing but few moving parts and .which is extremely eflicient in operation as well as inexpensive to manufacture. I

Ancillary objects and features of novelty shall become apparent to those skilled in the art,- following the description of the preferred em-' bodiment of the present invention, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan diagrammatic view of the preferred former the present invention;

Figure 2.is a side view of the rotor used conjunction with the. pump means and forming part of the present invention;

Figure 3 is a sectional view of the flywheeland pump means forming part of the present inven-' tion;

Figure 4 is used in the rotor of the pump means;.

Figure 5 is a sectional view of the control means utilized in regulating the pitch of the blade;

Figure 6 is a sectional view of used in the present invention; and,

Figure 7 is a transverse sectional view of the difierential disclosed in Figure 6.

Referring now in detail to the illustrated preferred embodiment of the present invention, like reference characters are usedthroughout to indicate similar elements.

1 Viewing Figure .l, there is disclosed a conventional. vehicular chassis 40 having an internal combustion engine 12 at one end thereof. A flywheel housing I4 is secured to the said engine l2 and a pump housing 16 is communicated with the said flywheel housing. Conduits I 8 and zflprespectivelylead from thesaid pump housing.

invention is to provide.

a perspective of the blade means the differential 9 Claims. (01. 103 -39) 1 for a flywheel member 42.

driven by theengine crank shaft 43 whichdsalso journaled in the housing extension 4i]. Gear teeth 46 of the bevel typeare formed in- I5 to a differential 22 which has axlejhousing members 24 and 26 respectively extending therefrom. From an inspection of this figure the general operation of the invention becomes ap-' parent. Torque from the internal combustion engine i2 is transmitted to a flywheel within the housing M, which in turn is transmitted to a pump rotor within the housing [6. Ther are controllable pitch blades withinthe said rotor to which end,'-the control means 28 has been provided therefor. Fluid in the system is then pumped through a selected conduit to 'the differential means 22 and then the fiuid'is returned back to the housing I6 after turning the rotating, independent differential members inthe said differential housing or case 22.

The specific construction of the pump means is disclosedin Figure 3 wherein a ball bearing race 30 extends around the periphery of the said housing l6. One ring of the said race 30 engages the housing while theother ring en-- gages a suitable flange 32 which is positioned on the'rotor member 34. Of course, a pair of ball bearing races may be provided on alternate faces of th said rotor 34 and the associated flange 32 may also be duplicated as seen in Figure 3. A peripheral extension 36 is provided about the said rotor 34 and bevel gears 33 form the terminal portion thereof. I

It will be noted that the said housing It has an extension 40 thereon which forms a housing This flywheel is tegral with the flywheel 42 and are complemental to the said gear teeth 38. The said teeth 33 and 43 are in operative engagement for the pur-' pose of transmitting torque from the engine 12 through the flywheel 42, thence to the rotor 34. Oil seal means 48 may be provided at the junction between the housing [-6 and the extension The interior structure of the said rotor 34 formsan important part of the present invention and will be described at this time. A plurality of radially extending legs 50 connect the outer periphery of the saidrotor 34 with an outer hub 52,*which is positioned adjacent the center of the said rotor. Apertures 54 are providedin the outer surface or periphery of the said rotor 34 and 'each' ofsaid apertures are provided substantially midway ofthe pair of radially extend ing arms 53. Complemental apertures SB'are provided in a slide member or inner hub '58 3 which is positioned within the hub 52. Bell crank members 60 are received in each of the said apertures 58 at one end thereof while the other end extends through the lower portion of a shaft 62. Now, this shaft 62 is rigidly secured to a blade 64. The said blade 64 is obviously positioned between a pair of radially extending arms 50 and the other end of the said shaft 62 is received in a selected one of the aforementioned apertures 51!.

There is a small cage 66 about the said hub 52 and diametric cylinders 68 and 10 respectively extend from th said small cage 66. Pis-- tons I2 and I4 respectively are reciprocatedly received in the said diametrically opposite cylinders 68 and I respectively and the' piston' rods are rigidly, but detachably, secured to; the said-- slide member 58. Any type of securing means may be utilized for this purpose, however, the.

screw-threaded arrangement shown in Figure 3 is deemed adequate and even desirable.

. Conduits- 16; and 16 respectively extend from the said small,- .diametric cylinders and terminate atselected walls of the housing I6. Then, new conduits 80 and 8-2 respectively extend from the housing I6 after forming a junction with the above mentionedconduits 16' and 18'. Reference is now madeto Figure wherein'a second pair of cylinders 84 and 86 respectively are provided. The saidconduits wand-82 terminate in respective cylindersand any suitable connecting means may be utilized for retaining these conduits in a fixed, detachable relation. with the said cylinders and 66 As is disclosed theusual thread tons-92 and 94 respectively are received-in the said cylinders 86 and 84 and the associated piston, A.

rods extend to a common junction point. lever'96-ispivoted to the said plate 88 and a lostmotion connection is utilized for retaining the said junction of the piston rodsand thelever 96 in an operative adjustable position. Friction.

means 90 may be supplied on the said annulus 90 for. retaining the lever 96 in a selected position. Fluid is introduced to said last mentioned piston cylinderarrangement for the purpose of sliding the slide member 58 -which in turn obvi-- ously changes the pitch of the blade 64. The flow of fluid in the said housing I6 may be regulated as to speed and directionv by this means.-

The said conduits I8 and 20 extend rearwardly to'the differential case 22. Referringnow to Figures 6 and 'lprimarily there is disclosed this case 22 which is composed primarily of a back plate I00 and a recess member I02 rigidly secured thereto by means of bolts I04 or the like. Axles I06and I08 respectively extend interior of said housing 22 and are received within suitableaxle housings IIn as is well known in the art. The axles I06 and I08 may be ournaled in suitable, conventional==bearings II2 which are in themselves friction reducing members.

A 'pair of. .independent impellers 5- and IIB are receivedin said; case 22. One of the said impellers-wlI-s is journaled on a first shaft I08 while the-other'impeller H6 is journaled on the other. shaft or axle I06. It is seenv that by this construction the said impellers H5 and IIG-are' independent of each other as torate of'speed. Since the conduits I8; and 20.extend into opera- .tive communication with-the said case 22, -it is quite apparent that the fluid pumped from the housing I6 enters the said case 22, drives the impellers which in turn motivates the axles I06 and I08 for the purpose of driving a vehicle. Of course, sealing means I20 may be utilized in the system wherever deemed necessary, as is disclosed in Figure 7 wherein the oil seals I20 are provided adjacent the axles, at the point wherein they enter the case 22. It is also apparent that if desired, a reduced shank I22 may extend from a selected axle I08 and enter the opposite axle I06 through the medium of a suitable bore provided therein. This is merely for the purpose of giving or lending support to the impeller system within the case 22. If so desired, antifric tion bearings may be supplied within this bore and reduced shank construction.

While there has been described and illustrated but a-si ngle preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is apparent to those skilled in the art, that various changes including'omissions,

and additions may be madeherein without departing from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly, limitation is sought only in accordance with the scope of the following claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

l. A flywheel actuated pump for use in a vehicle-having' a flywheel in a" casing as a component of afiuid actuation unit comprising'a housing communicating with said casing and having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, a rotor disposed insaid housing including a hub andan outer member engaging the flywheel and peripherally supported in said housing, a plurality of blades, each of said blades having a pivot pin at the tip thereof disposed in said outer member and a crank attached at the root thereof 'mounted for pivotal movementinsaid hub; andmeans for moving said-hub with respect to said outer member thereby rotating said blades about said cranks and said pivot pins as an axis to change the'p-itch thereof;

2...;A-pump for use in a vehicle as a component of a fluid actuation unit comprising a housing having-a fluid inlet and afiui-d outlet, a rotor disposed in said housing including a'hub and an outer member-having peripheral driven means thereon, a pluralityofblades; each of said blades having a pivot pin at the tip thereof disposed in said outer member and a crank attached at the root thereof mounted for pivotal movement in said hub,'and' means for moving said hub with respect to said outer member thereby rotating said blades about said cranks and said pivot pins as-an axisto change the pitch thereof, said hub moving meanscomprising opposed cylinders disposedxin said housing and mounted on said hub, pistons disposed in said cylinders, and means for conducting fluid to each of said cylinders.

3.. A pump for use in a vehicle as a component of a fluid actuation: unit comprising a housing having a fluidrinlet" and: a fluid outlet, a'rotor disposed in said housing including a hub and: an outer member having peripheral driven means thereomia plurality of:blades;each'of said blades having a pivot pin'at the tip thereof disposed in said outer member and a crank attached at the root thereof mounted for pivotal movement in said hub, and means for moving said hub with respectto said outer member thereby rotating said blades about said cranks and said pivot pins a'san'axistogchange the pitch thereof, said hub moving means comprisingopposed cylinders dispistons disposed in said cylinders, and means for conducting fluid to each of said cylinders including a manually operable fluid pump communicated with said fluid conducting means.

4. A pump comprising a casing having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, a rotor disposed in said casing which includes an outer member having peripheral driven means thereon, bearings interposed between said outer member and said casing peripherally supporting said rotor, a hub, a plurality of blades pivoted at their tips to said outer member, means pivotally attaching said blades at their roots to said hub, and means disposed in said casing for displacing said hub with respect to said outer member to change the efiective pitch of said blades.

5. A pump comprising a casing having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, a rotor disposed in said casing which includes an outer member having peripheral driven means thereon, bearings interposed between said outer member and said casing peripherally supporting said rotor, a plurality of blades having tips and root ends, means pivoting said'tips to said outer member, a hub, a cage disposed in said casing, means supporting the cage and mounting the root ends of said blades in said hub for pivotal movement, said hub being disposed in said cage, and means reacting on said hub for laterally displacing said hub with respect to said outer member to change the pitch of said blades.

6. A pump comprising a casing having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, a rotor disposed in said casing which includes an outer member havin peripheral driven means thereon, bearings interposed between said outer member and said casin peripherally supporting said rotor, a plurality of blades having tips and root ends, means pivoting said tips to said outer member, a hub, a cage disposed in said casing, means supporting the cage and mounting the root ends of said blades in said hub for pivotal movement, said hub being disposed in said cage, and means reacting on said hub for laterally displacing said hub with respect to said outer member to change the pitch of said blades, said mounted and supporting means comprising a plurality of cranks secured to said hub and said blades.

7. A pump comprising a housing having an'inlet and an outlet, a peripherally support-ed rotor member mounted in said housing and havin peripheral driven means thereon, a plurality of blades pivoted to said rotor member and having pivot pins extending toward a common center, a cage mounted on said pins, a hub disposed in said cage, means associated with said hub and said pins for imparting rotative movement to said blades upon linear movement of said hub including a plurality of cranks, and fluid actuated means associated with said cage for imparting linear movement to said hub including pistons fixedto said hub, cylinders in said cage with said pistons disposed therein and means for in- I troducing fluid to said cylinders.

8. The combination of claim 7 and said cylinders being disposed on opposite sides of said hub, said last mentioned means including a manually operative fluid pump remote from said cylinders and pistons, and conduits inter-communicatin said cylinders and said fluid pump.

9. The combination of claim 8 and means fixed to said rotor member for actuating said rot-or member.

GERALD LAVERN MULLINS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

